ALMONDSBURY first team kept themselves in the Bristol and District League title race on Saturday with a convincing victory over Clevedon.

Batting first, the home side posted 189 on a wicket that was offering assistance to the bowlers. Matt Wood with 45 off 78 balls and the youthful Mike Perham amassing 59 off 101 balls being the main contributors to the total.

Jack Davey with 8.4-1-34-5 was the pick of the Clevedon bowlers with Mark Bibbing 2-38, Jack Banks 2-34 and Michael Oliver 1-41 claiming the other wickets.

In reply, Clevedon got off to a flying start as 12 runs came off the first over.

After that point, the Almondsbury bowlers took control.

They were backed up by some tight fielding and some good catching, in particular a fine diving one handed catch by Matt Wood.

Clevedon were eventually all out for 107 inside 32 overs with all the home bowlers playing their part.

Aaron Jones 1-19, Chet Persaud 3-16, Andy Parkinson 2-21 and Mike Frohlich 3-14 being instrumental in the Clevedon downfall.

Almondsbury first team now have to play Winterbourne seconds away on Saturday.

And there is little separating the sides with Winterbourne in third, Almondsbury in fourth and both hoping that second-placed Clevedon can lose heavily while they gain maximum points to leapfrog the current runners up into the promotion place behind leaders Coalpit Heath.

Meanwhile, in the Bristol and District League Division Eight, Almondsbury seconds’ chance of promotion disappeared on Saturday when they were well beaten at BAC by 57 runs.

Fielding first, Almondsbury managed to dismiss the home side for 166 with Patel top scoring with 61.

The Almondsbury bowlers were led by skipper Chris Slade who returned fine figures of 4-45.

He was backed up by Matt Smith 3-27 and Andy Taylor 2-61.

In reply, Almondsbury were outplayed and were eventually dismissed for 109.

Patel 3-22, Harri Kammula 3-5, Ravi Vinjamuri 1-36, Sufyian Mohammad 2-16 and Aloke Roy 1-12 doing the damage for the home side.